You were nominated for exemplifying the character core of humility, because of your willingness to help others, regardless of their role. What does humility mean to you? Humility to me means to simply be humble and willing to help anyone and everyone that you are able to, no questions asked.
How does it feel to be recognized as Employee of the Month?
I feel honored being the Employee of the Month. It makes me see that the work I do is being recognized and that I am impacting others.
How long have you been working at Variety Care?
I have been working with Variety Care for six years as of December 20th.
Why do you take it upon yourself to learn new skills?
I was raised by a man that will not take an “I can’t” from any of his children or his wife. He will push us to learn more and more each day. He was the one that showed me that you can never have enough knowledge in life. I have always had that in mind, and continue to try and learn more and more, even if along the way I make mistakes.
What has been the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part about my job is seeing patients smile. You would be surprised how people can be so insecure about their smile, but once they come here and they get their treatment done they smile and show it off.
What makes you so willing to take new teammates under your wing?
I remember when I first started here at Variety Care - I came here without any knowledge in dental. I only knew what an extraction and a filling were, and that was only because I had those treatments done before. I see myself in the new hires who join the dental team, and that makes me want to help them. I felt afraid to not know anything, so I always tell them to not feel discouraged/afraid, and that I was once in their place. I tell them that if they are willing to learn, this job will eventually be a piece of cake for them.
Tell us about your family. My family comes from the small town of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Both of my parents are from Cardenas, San Luis Potosi. I am the youngest of three siblings. I have six nieces and nephews, the oldest being 14 and the youngest only one month old. I have been married for seven years.
Anything else you would like to add?
I just want to thank everyone who has pushed me to do better and who has helped me grow as a person. I love the team I work with, and I know I can continue to count on them.
I SEE MYSELF IN THE NEW HIRES WHO JOIN THE DENTAL TEAM
-ANITA
Carol Martin Executive Director of Community Services
Last year Variety Care treated 22,000 uninsured patients - and out of that 22,000, federal funding only covered about 7,000 of them. In order to bridge that gap, Variety Care relies on grants and fundraising. Executive Director of Community Services Carol Martin explains the important role patient stories play in that process. “The story of one person touches people’s hearts and gives them a picture of the impact of their donations versus number of people served,” Martin says. “An impactful patient story can show how vital donations are much better than data.”
uninsured children who are physically disabled, to provide dental to pregnant women, and to support nutrition, immunizations, and mammograms,” she notes.
She stresses that the input of staff at all levels is critical to our ability to convey Variety Care’s message. “Everyone at Variety Care can help by keeping an eye out for patient stories,” Martin says. She also asks that if anyone learns of a possible grant, they email her at cmartin@varietycare.org.
-Carol Martin
If you know of any patient stories you’d like to share, contact us at communications@varietycare.org.
Each year the Variety Care Foundation holds a fundraising event that highlights the success stories we all have a hand in creating and designates a program to best utilize those funds. Last year, donations from the event went to the patient assistance program, which provides help to low-income patients who cannot afford the services they need.
Martin says the grant funds we receive are used in our medical, behavioral health, dental, optometry, and social services departments. “We receive grants to help
A Mexican consulate is coming to Oklahoma City to aid our blossoming Hispanic community. Last month, Executive Director of Community Services Carol Martin welcomed Consul Edurne Pineda to our Britton clinic to discuss services and programs offered through Variety Care.
Pineda says that along with documentation assistance, her office plans to help Mexican citizens navigate education, finances, and health care in the United States. “We want to educate, we want to provide information to our community so they can protect themselves and be better members of their communities,” she said.
The meeting opened a doorway for future collaborations between the organizations. “The barriers with health care that a lot of people have, we try to break those down and make it accessible,” Martin said. Her sentiments were echoed by Pineda’s vision for the Consulate to provide Mexican citizens with the tools needed to discover their options for healthcare.
Martin explained to Pineda that Variety Care prides itself on providing quality care to all members of the community – regardless of insurance or citizenship status. She emphasized that one aspect of making care accessible is
ensuring Variety Care has as many services and resources as possible to wrap around its patients so they don’t have to navigate it alone.
Additionally, Martin told Pineda that Variety Care has bilingual staff and translators at each location because nearly 60% of our patients are Spanish speaking. “Many of them can speak English, but Spanish is the preferred, so we try to, in each of our health centers, try to mirror what the community looks like,” Martin said.
Pineda said health care is one of her top priorities as Consul. “If they do not have access to preventive care they end up in the ER, which is much more expensive - not only because of the medical treatment but because you're going to lose a really good worker,” she explained. “It really is a social issue.”
Oklahoma City will become home to the 51st Mexican consulate in the United States. Pineda said she anticipates her office opening this spring, with an estimated flow of 200-300 visitors per day.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES
-Consul Edurne Pineda
One of many ways that Variety Care lives up to its standard of making quality, affordable health care accessible to everyone is by participating in the Farm Worker Health Program. Thanks to this program, agricultural workers, along with every member of their household, can have access to vouchers that will help pay for their medical, dental, and vision needs.
“The Variety Care locations have the sliding fee scale, which is a huge plus,” Director of the Farm Worker Health Program Bernie Calvin says. “That typically reduces the cost to an acceptable amount that the voucher covers.”
seasonal workers, and migratory workers –both documented and undocumented.
She also explains that if there is an agricultural worker in the home, everyone in the household qualifies as well. “Even if multiple families have to live under the same roof, they all qualify,” Calvin says.
Calvin says these vouchers cover $100 for each service, and each participant in the program receives $1,000 per year. The program helps with everything from labs and injections to x-rays and medications. She says there are also other contracted programs to assist with vision.
“Another very unique program that the farmworker has with Variety Care, is that we provide lifetime benefits to the retired migrant population,” she continues. “That includes their family as well.”
Calvin says the Farm Worker Health Program assists individuals that are H-2A workers,
Calvin even goes the extra mile, often visiting farms to build that relationship with current and future patients. She says her only focus is the health of the workers. “I’ve gone to the farms, and I’ve seen patients with glasses so shattered they could barely see, and I told them, ‘I can help you get new glasses through our program,’” she says.
Variety Care patients say that joining the Farm Worker Health Program is easy and life changing. “I’m grateful for the program and all the help and assistance they gave me as far as my medication,” says program participant Mario Diaz. “They’ve just been there for me.”
Mellisa Olvera
Eunice Solano
Patient Access Supervisor, PAC
Vanessa Green MA, Anadarko
